Portable traffic signal



July 25, 1939.

A. s. FONDA PORTABLE TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Feb. 20, 1939 Patented July 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in portable traffic signals.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a portable traffic control signal of the collapsible type which when collapsed occupies a minimum of space for ready transportation in a police patrol car and one which may be readily assembled and set up for service in emergencies for the control of traiflc following accidents and 10 for other temporary uses.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable traffic signal of the foregoing character embodying a signal head of plate formation with luminous signal indicia on opposite faces thereof,

it rendering the signal service in both daylight and at night.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in w the novel form, combination and arrangementof parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable trafiic signal constructed in accordance with the present invention showing the base support, the vertically adjustable standard thereon and the signal head;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view showing a w luminous lens or button viewable at the rear side of the signal head Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the front plate of the signal head with trafiic control indicia thereon;

as Figure d is a rear elevational view of the rear plate of the signal head showing an opening therein to accommodate the mounting of a luminous lens or button with a depending fork for attachment to the upper leg of a two-part standdll ard;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the luminous lens or button;

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the upper leg of the standard;

Figure 'l is a perspective view of the lower leg of the standard;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the supporting base; and

Figure 9 is a vertical detail sectional View taken on line t-9 of Figure 2.

The portable traffic sign comprises a. base plate it of any preferred configuration in plan view desired, the same being shown as triangular and 55 having depending corner feet H for the steady 12 having a series of spaced openings l5 therein that are adapted to register with openings IS in the strap M and leg Him the reception of a pin H for holding the leg I2 in its vertically adjusted position. The pin I1 is carried by a chain 15 18 that is permanently anchored at one end to the tubular strap M.

The connection between the lower end of the leg 13 and the base plate ill includes a foot 19 projecting at right angles from the lower end of go the leg l3 with the free end of the foot bifurcated as at 2!] for straddling a screw 2! rising from the base plate ill, the nut 22 threaded upon the upper end of the screw 2| being engaged with the foot It for holding the same bindingly engaged with 25 the base plate In as will be readily understood from an inspection of Figure 1. i

A signal head is detachably engaged with the upper end of the leg H of the vertically adjustable standard and comprises a pair of plates 23 so and 24 shown in detail in Figures 3 and 4, said plates being of the same shape and of any preferred configuration, the plate 23 carrying bendable ears 25 at opposite ends thereof for engagement with adjacent ends of the plate 24 for se- 85 curing the two plates together. The outer face of the plate 23 has traffic signal indicia thereon indicated by the reference character 26 in the form of the word Stop and the letters of said word may be formed of luminous beads or the like and other tramc indicia thereon may comprise the word Police indicated by the reference character 21!. The other plate 24 of the signal head has a central opening 28 therein and in which Q opening the luminous button or lens 29 shown indetail in Figure 5 is mounted, the luminous button 29 carrying a marginal flange 3U engageable with the inner face of the plate 2 surrounding the opening 28 with the luminous button retained go 7 in position by the plate 23 of the signal head as will be readily understood from an inspection of Figure 9. The lower edge of the signal plate 2 3 carries a depending forked leg 3| to straddle the screw 32 carried by the upper end of the leg I: 55

01' the standard and is removabiy retained thereon by the nut 33 threaded onto said screw 32.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent, it

I being noted that the portable traflic control signal is readily knocked down for purposes 01' transportation and easily assembled and set up for use and while there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

forked leg of the head for detachably securing the I head to the standard.

ALFRED S. FONDA. 

